You're managing a team of remote animators. How can you ensure your feedback is constructive and clear?
When managing a team of remote animators, it's crucial to deliver feedback that's both constructive and clear. To navigate this challenge:
How do you ensure your remote team understands your feedback?
You're managing a team of remote animators. How can you ensure your feedback is constructive and clear?
When managing a team of remote animators, it's crucial to deliver feedback that's both constructive and clear. To navigate this challenge:
How do you ensure your remote team understands your feedback?
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If the production is in English, and the remote team’s first language is not English, providing actionable feedback is a skill in itself! Here’s some tips for writing feedback notes: 1. Keep the language simple and direct. 2. Don’t use any slang or colloquialisms. 3. Number the feedback points - one idea per note. 4. Don’t assume the reader knows the meaning of animation terms that might be obvious to you. 5. Further to 4. above, write a glossary of terms at the start of the project. 6. Shoot self videos to show an action or expression that might be difficult to explain simply in words. 7. Use paint-overs to describe staging or composition notes. 8. Be constructive and positive with critique - no matter how bad it looks.
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Over the many years that I have been working with remote animators, including working with overseas studios where English isn't the first language, I have found following these principles have the best results: -creating a clear guide for the project, clearly articulate any rules that are project-specific and establish expectations, visual examples are best -video calls for kickoffs -feedback in bullet form, one point for every note. Unless the notes are related, keep them separate -choose your words carefully -when praise is warranted, give it. Keep criticism objective. Remember there's a hard working human reading it -use annotations and draw overs when it can save text and enhance clarity -regular check ins to keep communication open
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When you're preparing your feedback, look at all the animation, decide what you like and don't like about it...and I don't know... make sure it's constructive..... and....erm......clear?
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To ensure my remote team of animators understands feedback, I follow these key strategies: 1. Start with clarity: I set clear expectations at the outset, providing detailed briefs, references, and examples. 2. Leverage visual communication: Animators are visual learners, so I use annotated screenshots, sketches, or screen recordings to explain feedback more effectively. 3. Adopt a collaborative tone: I frame feedback constructively, highlighting what’s working well before addressing areas for improvement. 4. Encourage two-way communication: I create open feedback loops by inviting questions, discussing suggestions, and holding video calls to clarify complex points. 5. Document everything: Feedback is documented in shared tools.
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To give clear, constructive feedback remotely, I use specific examples, break down complex points, and highlight positives alongside areas for improvement. I also provide visual references and maintain open channels for questions, ensuring everyone understands expectations and can work confidently.
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1. Be very clear. Cite the exact frames, what you need them to do, and explain why separately 2. Note what needs to happen before what you want to happen. Sometimes what you want to happen and what the scene needs aren't the same thing. Make sure they're aware what the basic, objective needs are before what your wants for the scene are. 3. Tell them what works and what doesn't. It's easy to gravitate towards just saying the negatives and tell them what to avoid. But telling them what good things they should be repeating is so much more helpful. 4. Open the floor to questions in case something isn't clear. Discussion is the fastest way to clear up misunderstandings.
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Bullet points and step by step instructions are key. I rely solely on written documentation, along with preliminary storyboards prior to beginning. I’ve also found it helpful to work on a “test clip” together to ensure that the look and style are correct. It’s easier to work out direction and any discrepancies in a 10 second preview, than wait until you’re into the full project.
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When managing a remote animation team, I’ve found that setting clear expectations early on is essential for keeping everyone aligned. I always make sure to define project goals and deadlines upfront. Visual aids like sketches, reference images, or past examples help bridge any communication gaps, especially since we’re not in the same room. I also prioritize open dialogue, encouraging team members to ask questions or offer input. This helps me ensure they truly understand the feedback, and it creates a more collaborative, trusting atmosphere, where everyone feels comfortable voicing their thoughts.
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To ensure that feedback is constructive and clear when managing remote animators, one needs to be; 1. Specific and actionable. 2. Use visual reference to understand what exactly you envision. 3. Balance positive and constructive feedback. Start by acknowledging what's working well, then address areas of improvement. 4. Structure feedback in clear segments, easy to follow format 5. Encourage two-way communication ie. Inviting questions and clarifications. 6. Set deadline for revisions 7. Follow up on progress by having regular check-ins.
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You can use any real-time collaborative platform to go through the project first. Please discuss everything with the necessary files open, and avoid email communications for first-time feedback. You can use a remote desktop to explain it clearly with pointers.
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